SKULL LEADER'S DOWN!
CHAPTER 10
Secret Zentraedi Facility – Black Forest
Lord Berrak and Garrak were watching the battle progressing on a computer screen. Garrak was holding a telephone to his ear.
"Sir, flight operations reports that several Micronian veritech fighters were destroyed by the missiles and another is damaged but still flying."
"Send up another flight of battle pods to finish off the fighters."
"Yes sir."
RDF Combat Operations Center – Fokker Base
Lisa flinched and put her hands to her mouth to stifle the scream that wanted to come out when she heard Rick screamed the words she never wanted to hear.
'Oh please God no!' Lisa prayed as tears began to fall from her eyes.
Claudia who was standing next to Lisa immediately put her arms around Lisa's shoulders to give her moral support.
"Lisa, stay positive. Rick's still alive. He may still be able to fly back to base. You need to stay calm and positive."
Lisa nodded her head.
On the overhead speakers, Lisa, Claudia, Nikki and the trio listened to the progress of the battle.
In the skies over the Black Forest
"Sir, you've been hit in the port engine!"
"How are you doing, Rick?' Miriya asked.
"I'm ok Miriya but I will have to return to base."
"More battle pods are coming up on our six!" A pilot screamed.
"Protect the CAG! Protect Captain Hunter!" Miriya yelled on the radio.
Immediately veritechs began to engage the battle pods trying to prevent the battle pods from finishing the job the SAMs started. The battle pods zeroed in on Rick's damaged VT like a wolf closing in on a wounded deer. The veritechs were successful in shooting down most of the battle pods, but a battle pod did managed to shoot several rounds into Rick's damaged VT until it exploded in a fire ball courtesy of a missile fired from Miriya's VT. Smoke began pouring out of the damaged starboard engine and warning lights began blinking and siren began going off.
"I've been hit again!"
"You've been hit in the starboard engine! Can you turn around, Rick?" Miriya asked.
"Negative! My hydraulic line been shot! I can't steer! I have to eject!"
Rick quickly grabbed the picture of Lisa he always kept in the cockpit, kissed it and put it in a pocket of his flight suit and zipped up the pocket. Rick then reached up and yanked the ejection cord. Immediately the canopy exploded and blew back away from the front of the VT. Instantaneously, the rocket jets in the ejection seat kicked in sending Rick up and away from Skull One. The ejection seat shot up several hundred feet up in the air and died. Rick separated from the ejection seat and his parachute opened. Rick slowly began to descend down to the forest floor.
"Skull Leader's down! Skull Leader's down! He has ejected and is on his way down!" Miriya yelled over the radio.
RDF Combat Operations Center – Fokker Base
"Let me make the call, Lisa." Claudia whispered to Lisa as she patted Lisa on the shoulder.
"Thanks Claudia."
Claudia then reached for telephone on the console. "This is Commander Grant in the COC. Captain Hunter has been shot down and had to eject. Who do we have standing by for a rescue? Thank you."
"Lisa, the 321st Special Tactics Squadron is standing by at a forward operating base in Munich. They're ready to rescue Rick whenever they get the word."
"Thank you Claudia. Admiral Gloval needs to be notified of Rick being shot down."
"Let me do it, Lisa. If Rick contacts us by SATCOM, you need to be here when he does. When he does contact you, you need to stay calm for him, ok. You need to keep your emotions in check."
Lisa nodded her head. Claudia patted Lisa on the shoulder one more time before leaving the COC. Claudia walked to Admiral Gloval's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Claudia opened the door but did not walk in. "Sir, Ghost Flight was attacked by a flight of battle pods deep in the heart of the Black Forest. The battle pods dispersed but were then attacked by SAMs. Captain Hunter's VT was hit in the port engine by a SAM. Another group of battle pods attacked the flight and Skull One was hit in the starboard engine. Captain Hunter far as we know is unhurt but he had to eject when the hydraulic line was shot."
"SAMs? How the Hell the rebel Zentraedi was able to get SAMs?"
"I don't know sir. This is first time I've ever heard of rebel Zentraedi using SAMs."
"God damn it! What the fuck is Intelligence doing, sitting on their asses and jacking off?"
Hearing Admiral Gloval cuss that like threw Claudia for a loop. Even though Admiral Gloval is a hot tempered man, he never curses unless he is really upset. Hearing that his CAG, staff officer and best and experienced pilot was shot down and on the run because of faulty intelligence made Admiral Gloval make that profane tirade.
"I'm sorry Claudia. I shouldn't have cussed with you present. Ok, what does Captain Hunter has once he hits the ground?"
"What he has in his survival backpack. Water, water filtration kit, matches, compass, GPS unit, combat survival knife, jacket, flint and steel, sponge, hand flairs, emergency rations and blanket, first aid kit, fishing line, rain poncho, gloves, extra socks, coat, plus his M-4 carbine and M9 pistol with two magazines each."
"What about his SATCOM radio?"
"His SATCOM radio has a solar powered battery for his main power and for use in daylight, two back-up batteries with an energy life of 12 hours. It's encrypted and it changes frequencies every millisecond so there is not a chance the enemy can lock down on a frequency to try to track him down or scramble the signal. The tracker beacon in the SATCOM will be activated once he hits the ground which should be now."
"Thank you Claudia."
"You're welcome, sir." Claudia said as she closed the door.
In the skies above the Black Forest
"What are we going to do now, ma'am?" A pilot asked Miriya.
"We're going to keep…"
"Ghost Leader, this is Strike. You are ordered to break off and return to base immediately on the orders of General Maistroff."
"Roger Strike Ghost Flight returning to base."
Secret Zentraedi Base – Black Forest
"Lord Berrak, flight operations report that the Micronian pilot of the damaged veritech has ejected."
"Do flight operations know where the pilot landed?"
"No sir."
"Organize a search party to find the Micronian pilot. Once you find him, bring him to me. I want him delivered to me alive."
"Yes sir." Garrak said as he saluted. Garrak gathered up a group of guards and soldiers, divided them up into teams, went into several trucks and left the facility to track down Rick.
The Black Forest near the Austrian border
Rick floated down to Earth but was hung up in a pine tree several feet off the forest floor. He had to use a paratrooper's jump knife to cut the straps and cords to the parachute. He cut the cords and straps and fell several feet down to the ground on his back. Air rushed out of his lungs as he hit the forest floor. Rick had to lie on the ground for several minutes to get his wind back. After getting his breath back, Rick opened his backpack to get out his compass. He knew he had to go directly north but didn't know how far north he had to go because he didn't know where he is. He took out his GPS unit to find out where he is. He is almost at the Germany/Austria border. He then took out his SATCOM radio, put the earpiece in his right ear and turned the unit on.
"Mother Base, this is Skull Leader. Mother Base, this is Skull Leader. Do you read me Mother Base over?"
Lisa's heart soared upon hearing Rick's voice. 'Thank God, he's alive!' Lisa said to herself as she reached for the microphone that was hooked to a console. Her military training kicked in as she pressed the button on the microphone.
"Skull Leader, this is Mother Base. I read you loud and clear Skull Leader over."
Rick's heart beat in double time when he heard Lisa's voice over the radio. "Lisa?"
"Yes Rick…It's me. I'm here! And I'll be here with you every step of the way until you're safe, I promise. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here. How're you doing? Are you hurt?" Lisa said as tears were gathering in her eyes and her voice was breaking.
"No, I'm not hurt. I'm ok. I love you, Lisa." Rick said as his voice was cracking
Lisa thought ahead of time to switch the radio from the overhead speaker to a private two-way communication. "I love you too."
General Maistroff's office
Miriya who is now the leader of Skull Squadron's European flight was in General Maistroff's office getting chewed out by the general. Maistroff was livid when he heard that Rick was shot down and is now on the run evading from being captured by the rebel Zentraedi.
"Lieutenant Sterling, what the Hell happened up there?!"
"Sir, it is as I told you earlier, we were attacked by a flight of battle pods. After shooting down several battle pods, they dispersed when soon afterward surface to air missiles were fired at us from an unknown ground position. One missile hit Captain Hunter's VT in the port engine. Soon afterward, another flight of battle pods, perhaps the same one that attacked us earlier came up to engage us and perhaps to shot down Captain Hunter. We managed to shoot down the pods but not before one pod shot out the starboard engine of Skull One. Because of that, Captain Hunter had to eject."
"SAMs? How the Hell the enemy was able to get SAMs?"
"I don't know, sir. You have and receive the same intelligence briefings as we do."
"Well, it doesn't matter much now anyway, does it lieutenant. I'm now without my most experienced pilot and my air commander. There's no way I can get your husband over here to replace Captain Hunter without pissing off General Leonard. So as of now LT Sterling, you're grounded. You're now my air commander. CPT Lacey is now commander of Skull Squadron for the duration of this operation. Do I make myself clear lieutenant?"
"Yes sir." Miriya said without any feeling. Inside though, Miriya was seething. She felt she was being punished for letting Rick get shot down.
Robotech Factory Satellite
Breetai and Exedore were in Breetai's office going over the schematics for the SDF-3. They were deciding on whether to recommend to Admiral Gloval to build the SDF-3 on Earth or on the factory satellite. Admiral Gloval has been busy on war planning and has not been able to make any kind of decision on building a new SDF, so he passed the decision on Breetai and Exedore. They would make a decision on where to build the SDF-3 and to pass their recommendation onto Admiral Gloval who will make the final decision. Breetai and Exedore were going over computer schematics and blueprints when there was a knock on the door.
"Enter." Breetai said.
An RDF lieutenant entered into Breetai's office standing on a rolling conveying belt.
"Lord Breetai, Minister Exedore, I've just received word from RDF HQ on Earth that Captain Hunter was just shot down over the Black Forest. Captain Hunter is listed as missing in action but he is alive and HQ is in constant contact with him. He did parachute out before his VT went down."
"What is Captain Hunter's current location?" Exedore asked.
"He is approximately 5 kilometers from the Germany/Austria border."
"Thank you for notifying us, lieutenant. You're dismissed."
"Yes sir." The lieutenant said as he snapped off a salute.
After the lieutenant rolled away, the door slid down. Even though their stoic Zentraedi bearing is not allowing them to show it, Breetai and Exedore hearts were heavy upon hearing the news of Rick being shot down. Rick was the one of the first Micronian human to befriend the Zentraedi.and Miriya. Rick was Max's best man and Lisa was Miriya's maid of honor at their wedding. It was Rick who persuaded the RDF and Admiral Gloval to let Miriya become a VT pilot. Rick in his own way advanced the cause of human/Zentraedi relations. Exedore looked at Breetai.
"My lord, we will need to notify Admiral Gloval about the facility. Captain Hunter may be close to the facility and he may be in serious danger."
"Have we been able to contact our agent inside the facility?"
"I'm afraid not my lord. Our agent has been incognito since Operation Alpine started. The facility has increased its security and it's now in lockdown. We have not been able to contact our agent since."
"So there is not a way we can know when the facility's operation will come online or if it already has come online."
"I'm afraid that is correct my lord."
Breetai took in a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. "You are correct my friend. Set up an immediate video teleconference link to Admiral Gloval's office. Tell Admiral Gloval's assistant that we need to speak to him immediately."
"Yes my lord."
Exedore picked the telephone in Breetai's office and told the satellite's communications office to contact SGT Chase. A minute later, Admiral Gloval came up on the view screen.
"Lord Breetai, Minister Exedore."
"Admiral Gloval, I'm sorry to bother you at this time. I know you are very busy with current military operations."
"That is quite alright, Lord Breetai. To tell you the truth, I wanted to take a short break for a while anyway, so I don't mind the interruption. What can I do for you?"
"Admiral Gloval, I've been told that Captain Hunter was shot down over the Black Forest in Germany and is now currently listed as MIA."
"That is correct Lord Breetai. But I suspect that you have not called me just for that."
"That is correct Admiral Gloval. Henry, I'm afraid that we have not been totally truthful with you about we know about what is going on in the Black Forest."
Admiral Gloval's ears perked up. Like many Zentraedi, Breetai never addresses Admiral Gloval by his first name.
"Oh? Well then, by all means tell me everything."
RDF Combat Operations Center – Fokker Base
Lisa recollected her wits so she can stay strong for Rick. She switched to a wireless headset microphone so her arms will not get tired and she can be free to move around the COC. Lisa punched up a electronic map of Germany and found an circled X representing Rick's current location on the wide view screen that was downloaded from an stationary GPS satellite.
"Rick, the Para-rescue men from the 321st Special Tactics Squadron is standing by in Munich ready to get you out."
"No, don't call them, I'm going. I'm not going to wait for them to come and risk getting caught."
"Roger Skull Leader, Rick, we have your current location about 2 kilometers south of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, which means you are about 5 kilometers inside the German border. You need to go northeast to get to Munich. I do not see any towns between your current location and Munich over."
"Roger Mother Base."
"How is your current survival situation over?"
"I'm fully stocked on survival rations and water over."
Lisa then put in an overlay of roads onto the map. "Skull Leader, I do not see any paved roads in your immediate area. I see only improvised dirt trails and unpaved dirt roads. So, stay off the autobahn, roads and trails and you should be fine over."
"Roger Mother Base."
A female enlisted yeoman walked up and gave Lisa a steaming mug of coffee. Lisa silently mouthed a thank you to the tech, blew the steam away and took a small careful sip.
"Do you need anything else, ma'am?" The yeoman silently asked Lisa.
Lisa thought for a moment, and then covered the microphone with her hand. "Yes petty officer. Get me a bagel with cream cheese, the real cream cheese and not the fake kind."
"Yes ma'am." The yeoman said then
Lisa turned her attention back to the electronic overlay map. It was when she noticed that the circled X on the view screen that represented Rick was not moving.
"Rick, you need to start moving. The rebel Zentraedi will start looking for you."
"I just need a few seconds to get my bearings straight and check my compass then I'll start moving Lisa."
"Remember Rick; stay in the woods and off the trails and roads and you'll be fine."
"Yes mother."
Lisa rolled her eyes and shook her head but she couldn't help but smile at Rick's smart ass comment. 'He's in a dangerous situation and yet he making fun of what he's in.'
"Very funny Rick, I'm just trying to help you."
"I'm sorry, Lisa but don't worry. I'm falling back on my survival training to get me into friendly hands and back to you."
"Good Rick. Remember to eat your survival rations and drink your water sparingly."
"I will Lisa."
During the afternoon, Rick asked Lisa is she was going to eat lunch anytime soon.
"I'll eat when I get the chance Rick. But for now, I'm not going to leave the COC. I made a promise to you to be with you and I'm not going to break that promise to you."
Rick knew is was useless to tell Lisa to take a break or go eat lunch, since he's evading being captured and Lisa is at Fokker Base. Lisa can be a stubborn person. But he secretly hoped that Claudia was standing by to persuade Lisa to at least take a break.
It was getting dark in Germany; Rick was jogging through the forest when suddenly he froze in his tracks.
"Rick! Why have you stopped? Rick!"
Rick was silent for several minutes and not moving a muscle. Lisa was in a panic concerned that Rick may have been spotted by the enemy. Lisa then heard Rick blow out a big relieved breath.
"Rick, what happened?"
"I'm ok now Lisa. I was less than several feet away from a lone wolf but he's gone now."
Lisa blew out a relieved breath herself and felt her heart beating normally again.
Lisa stayed with Rick all day. She didn't dare to leave the COC not wanting to lose contact with Rick. She stayed in the COC all day, not leaving once to eat. Rick only managed to go several kilometers because of the mountains. It was well after midnight in Germany when Rick decided to stop for the night and sleep. He made a shelter using a small pine tree he bent down to the ground to keep the chilly early spring air out. Using his survival knife, Rick chopped off branches of the tree to make a bed. He didn't dare make a fire out of fear of being spotted.
After Rick broke the connection, Lisa put her head in her hand and cried. Claudia put her hand on Lisa's shoulder. "Lisa, it's time that you take a break. You must be exhausted by now. Rick's sleeping for the night. You've been up on your feet all day. Your feet and legs must be aching by now. Plus, you haven't eaten or drank anything at all save for that cup of coffee and bagel Petty Officer Goldstein gave you this morning."
"No Claudia. I need to be here when Rick wakes up. I'm the only thing that is keeping Rick going. I made a promise to him that I will not leave the COC until he's out of enemy territory and I'm not going to break that promise to him."
"Lisa, you're not going to do Rick any good if you're tired, hungry and thirsty. Tell you what, Lisa. How about you and I go to the cafeteria and get dinner. After that, I drive you home so you can get a decent night's sleep. You must be dead tired from being up all day."
"No, I will not do it Claudia! I will not leave the COC! I need to be here when Rick wakes up."
"Lisa, you may outrank me but you are going to follow my orders! You are going to leave the COC and eat a good meal. After that, I'm taking you home so you can get a good night's sleep. Sammie said she will look after Dana for tonight. Afterward, Vanessa, Nikki and Kim will take turns looking after Dana for us. Rick will understand if you're not here when he wakes up. I've known Rick as long as you have and I know him pretty well. I know he wants you to eat and go home and sleep. Now will you do what I suggest or do I have to sic Admiral Gloval on you?"
"No, you don't have to do that Claudia."
Claudia nodded her head. She then wrapped her arm around Lisa's shoulder and escorted her out of the COC and to the cafeteria that is in the same building as the COC. She then helped Lisa to Claudia's car and started driving towards Lisa's house. But before she drove to Lisa's house, Claudia stopped by her house.
"I have to get something out of my house, Lisa. I should only be gone for less than 5 minutes."
"Ok Claudia." Lisa said softly.
Claudia left her car engine running while she went inside her house. Several minutes later, Claudia came back to her car carrying a brown shopping bag.
"What's in the shopping bag, Claudia?"
"You'll find out in due time Lisa." Claudia answered as she put the car in gear.
Several minutes later, they arrived at Lisa's house. Claudia helped Lisa out of the car and into the house and turned on the house light.
"Ok Lisa, get out of your uniform and take a nice long hot bath. Not a shower, a bath. It will help you relax and loosen up your tired muscles. I'll get your uniform out of your closet and get your clothes ready for tomorrow."
"Thanks Claudia."
Lisa went into her bedroom, took off her white shoes and uniform, stripped off her panties, bra and pantyhose and walked into the bathroom carrying a white bathrobe in her arm, closed the door, turned on the hot water and filled the tub with hot water. After filling up the tub, Lisa stepped into the tub, closed her eyes and let the hot water relax her body.
After soaking in the bathtub for a while, Lisa shampooed her hair and washed herself with soap and water, rinsed herself off, let the bathtub drain, dried herself off, put on her white bathrobe and walked into the bedroom. Then Lisa done something she hadn't done in a long time. She took off her bathrobe and put on a pair of pajamas. She never wore pajamas in bed ever since Rick has been living with her. They always slept in the nude because that what a couple in love does at night. But she didn't see any reason to be sleeping in the nude when Rick is not here. She can't snuggle up to Rick and to feel his naked body against her naked body because he's not here. She can't be gently held in his strong arms because he's not here. She and Rick can't make love to each other because he's not here in her bed.
As all of those things were going through her mind, Lisa thought back to the time shortly after Rick moved in. She remembered grumbling and grousing about Rick wanting to make love to her all the time. Even though she grumbled and complained about Rick's libido in jest, she never thought she would miss the wild, imaginative, fun, and passionate ways they would make out and make love. That is, until now. As she was sitting up in bed, those thoughts hit her like a sledgehammer. She then put her feet on the bed; put a pillow between her chest and her knees. Lisa then put her head on the pillow, circled her arms around her knees and cried.
'Oh Rick, what I wouldn't give to have you make wild, passionate love to me. A part of me is missing. I don't even know if you will be captured during the night or worse. No, don't you dare think that way, Lisa Hayes! Rick will still be alive and evading when you arrive at work tomorrow morning.'
It was close to 11:00 PM when there was a knock on her bedroom door interrupting Lisa's thoughts. It was Claudia.
"Lisa, are you still awake?"
"Yes I am, Claudia. Come in." Lisa said as she was wiping away the tears with the sleeve of her pajama shirt.
Claudia opened the door, carrying a mug of a hot steaming liquid.
"I brought you something to help you sleep tonight."
"What is it?" Lisa asked as she sniffed the hot liquid.
"It is hot sangria. It has hot brandy and red wine, mixed with oranges and apples, sugar, whole cloves, whole cinnamon and other spices I've found in your kitchen cupboard. You want to drink it while it's still hot but you still want to sip it. You'll be sleeping like a baby in no time."
Lisa didn't want to drink the hot cocktail concoction because she usually does not drink anything alcoholic but Claudia went through a lot of time and trouble to make this for her, so the least she can do is to drink it.
"Thanks Claudia. You didn't have to do it."
"Don't mention it, Lisa. I'm just doing something for a friend."
Lisa smiled and took a small sip of the drink. It was hot but satisfying. Lisa had a smile on her face as she was sipping the hot brew. Several minutes later, she emptied her cup. Not long afterward, Lisa began to get sleepy. She yawned several times, lie down and put her head on the pillow. Claudia helped Lisa pull the blanket and cover sheet over her, quietly walked out of Lisa's bedroom and turned off the light. Lisa was gently snoring soon afterward.
The Black Forest – next morning
Rick woke up, threw off the emergency blanket that was covering him, blinked his eyes, grabbed his sidearm and looked around to make sure no one was nearby or was looking at him. After making sure he was alone, he sat up groaning. Sleeping on the ground with pine tree branches as your bed is not the most comfortable way to sleep. He then stretched, yawned and massaged his neck to rub out the kinks in his back and neck. He then reached inside his backpack and took out his GPS. He is 1 kilometer northeast away from Garmisch-Partenkirchen Germany. He then turned on his SATCOM radio.
"Mother Base, this is Skull Leader. Mother Base, this is Skull Leader. Do you copy over?"
"Skull Leader, this is Mother Base. I read you loud and clear, Skull Leader over."
"Whom am I talking to over?"
"I'm Ensign Julia Chen."
"Is Captain Hayes there over?"
"Negative, Skull Leader. Captain Hayes is at her home. After you broke off transmission last night, Commander Grant drove her home. Do you want me to call her so she can be here at once, over?"
Rick was smiling. 'Good going Claudia. I was hoping you would do that. I owe you one.' "Negative Ensign Chen. Let her sleep and get a decent breakfast first over."
"Affirmative, Skull Leader. I'll be with you until I'm relieved or Captain Hayes arrives here in the COC over."
"I copy Mother Base over."
"How are your rations and water holding up, Skull Leader over?"
"I'm ok on the rations Mother Base. I still have over half of my emergency rations uneaten. The water is a different situation. I'm down to about under half of my water and it was chilly last night so there was no dew for my sponge to absorb, Mother Base over."
"I read you, Skull Leader. Let me punch up an overlay map of available sources of water for you Skull Leader. There is the Isar River just east of your present location Skull Leader. There is also a lake north of you about 3 kilometers from your present location Skull Leader over."
"I copy Mother Base. I'm not worried about water just yet but I will have to replenish it very soon, probably before the day is over."
"I copy you Skull Leader. How is the battery power for you SATCOM radio doing?"
"My solar batteries are now fully recharged. My number one backup battery is down to half power and I did not use my second battery."
"Copy that Skull Leader."
It was well into the afternoon in Germany when Lisa arrived in the COC. After getting a briefing from Ensign Chen, Lisa put on the headset microphone
"Rick." Lisa said quietly and lovingly.
"Lisa." Lisa could tell from Rick's voice that his spirits were lifted when he heard her voice.
"Yes, it's me. I'm here." Lisa said as her voice was cracking.
"Oh..."
Lisa fell back on her military training to get Rick's mind back on evading. "Rick, you better start moving."
"I'm moving."
Rick had another mountain to climb. Lisa told Rick to eat his rations and drink before climbing. Rick had to refill his water pouches from a lake using the water filtration unit he has in his backpack. Rick started climbing in the late afternoon. He reached the high point at dusk and started going down the mountain. As he was going down into a valley, Rick started to hear a low hum. As he continued going down the mountain, the humming was getting louder.
"Mother Base, I'm hearing humming noises coming from somewhere down a valley."
"Yes Skull Leader, we can even hear it through the microphone in your SATCOM. It's getting very loud."
As Rick was walking down the valley, the humming was progressively getting louder and louder but it wasn't ear splitting. When he reached the valley, Rick noticed tire tracks that caused deep ruts in the ground.
"Mother Base, I see tire tracks on the ground. Is there a town or building anywhere near my location?"
"Let me check Rick. Negative Skull Leader, the overlay map does not show any town or building. Are you sure they're tire tracks?"
"I'm sure of it Lisa. There's something going on here that doesn't look right. I'm going to do some investigating before moving on."
"Be careful Rick."
Rick slowly and cautiously started following the tire tracks. Rick kept following the tire tracks for several miles. Suddenly the tire tracks disappeared. He then noticed that the humming was very loud. Rick looked over to his left and noticed something that was out of place, it looked like a projection machine.
'What the heck is a projection machine doing here in the middle of the Black Forest? It doesn't look like any ordinary projection machine.'
Rick then started to look around and up. What he saw startled him. He then ran back towards the tire tracks and started to run back until the humming noise was not as loud and off to where the tire tracks were. Rick keyed the button to his SATCOM radio.
"Mother Base this is Skull Leader. Mother Base this is Skull Leader. Do you read me over?"
"Skull Leader this is Mother Base. What did you find Rick?
"You're not going to believe this Lisa, but the humming noise is coming from a holographic projection machine."
"Come again, Rick?" Lisa asked not believing what Rick told her.
"Holographic projection machines, there's one every several feet and it is going around in a very large circle for I don't how long or wide. It's projecting a holographic image of trees."
Lisa was beginning to put it together. 'The tire tracks that suddenly disappear to nowhere, the holographic projection machines, it all makes sense now. No wonder our spy satellites can't see anything out of the ordinary. But what they are doing and hiding there is still the unanswered question.'
"Do you suppose that has something to do with what the Zentraedi are doing and hiding here, Lisa?"
"I'm beginning to suspect it is, Rick."
"I'm going to find out what it is they're doing here, Lisa."
Lisa became alarmed. "Rick no! You're a pilot! Not a spook! You could be captured or worse yet, you could be killed!"
"I know that Lisa! But I need to find out what's going on here! What is going on here is the reason why I've shot down and we were almost killed in January."
"Rick, what happens if we lose radio contact with you?"
"Lisa, this radio is encrypted. There's no way the enemy can scramble the signal or you lose contact with me."
"Rick no! I am ordering you not to do it!"
"I hear trucks coming! I'm ducking out of sight!"
As the convoy of trucks went past where Rick was hiding, Rick poked his head up looking for an opportunity to find a way to get in where the trucks are going. As the last truck in the convoy was going by, a covered flat bed truck went past Rick's hiding spot. Rick took the risk of being spotted to run and jump into the open back of the truck. Rick crouched down as low as he could and started to run. Rick jumped from about a foot away and landed on his belly on the truck's flat bed.
"Mother Base, I'm going in." Rick whispered into his SATCOM radio.
Lisa was shocked. "How did you…Rick, how are you doing it?"
"I've jumped into the back of a flat bed truck."
"YOU DID WHAT? RICK, ARE YOU CRAZY?"
"Lisa, I have to know what's going on here."
"Captain Hunter, I am ordering you to get off that truck NOW!"
"I can't Lisa! The truck's picking up speed!"
"Skull Leader, you are hereby ordered to abandon…" Lisa's last sentence was cut off by static.
"Lisa! Lisa! Mother Base can you hear me?"